Posts Tagged ‘central library’

Saving a Century The Victorian Society Exhibition comes to Birmingham Library

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Woodman Arms, Curzon Street and Millenium Point - image by hartlandmartin on flickr

Woodman Arms, Curzon Street and Millenium Point - image by hartlandmartin on flickr

There’s a couple of weeks left to see an exhibition at the Birmingham Central Library which celebrates the work of the Victorian Society and the part it has played in preserving historic buildings.

The Victorian Society was formed in 1958. In 2008 it celebrated 50 years of campaigning to save some of Britain’s wonderful Victorian buildings from destruction. The exhibition describing this work has come to Birmingham for a limited time and can be seen at the top of the first escalator in the Central Library. ( click here for a map)

There are large posters describing the buildings that have been saved: country houses and smaller scale domestic buildings, public institutions, such as Libraries and Museums, churches, industrial and commercial buildings. Some very impressive and important landmark buildings feature, from the Foreign Office in Whitehall to Clevedon Pier in Somerset.

Clevedon Pier in Somerset - picture by gibsonplayer on flickr

Clevedon Pier in Somerset - picture by gibsonplayer on flickr

Birmingham has had its share of losses but also has reason to celebrate – all of this is described in the exhibition. It’s certainly worth a visit if you’re in the centre of town and have the odd quarter to half an hour to spare, and there’s a very high quality brochure published by the Victorian Society to take home with you.

But hurry – it’s only on until the end of February so catch it while you can.

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Posted in Architecture, Birmingham News, Events, Heritage News | No Comments »

Birmingham Central Library "granted immunity from listing"

Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Central Library in Birmingham by Rory Munro - click for original.

Central Library in Birmingham by Rory Munro - click for original.

The government has announced that the John Madin designed Birmingham Central Library will not be listed – which means that the building can now be demolished as part of Birmingham’s Big City Plan.

English Heritage has expressed disappointment after advising the government to grant the building Grade 2 status, saying this morning:

English Heritage believes that the Library is worthy of Grade ll listed protection. Listing identifies whether a building is nationally important and not whether it must be kept. It is not a preservation order, simply a mark of special interest. Listed buildings can still be demolished once the case has been made and all other options have been explored. We have been working with the City Council throughout, and maintain an open dialogue with them.

In offering the Government our expert advice, we examined all aspects of its architectural interest including: whether it fulfilled its brief; whether it was a particularly good example of a public library; how well it survives; how it compares to other listed buildings of a similar type; and how influential the building has been. In our view, these tests were met.

We are naturally disappointed that Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw came to a different conclusion and we believe many local people will be too.

Birmingham City Council reports the decision as “immunity from listing” Mike Whitby, the council leader, has said:

“We are delighted that Government has granted our application for ‘immunity from listing’ for the Central Library, giving us a major boost in our plans to regenerate the city.

“Now, our vision around a new world-class library and theatre will be enriching transformational change in the heart of the city.

“Today’s decision helps pave the way for a multi-million pound redevelopment of Paradise Circus, which will allow people to enjoy a spectacular long-view from our Council House up to the new Library of Birmingham.

For more on people’s views about the library please see our post from yesterday. Jon Bounds – who opposes the demolition of the building – has been collecting a whole range of constantly updated articles here.

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Posted in Birmingham News, BirminghamUK, Buildings, Feature on Front Page, Heritage News | 5 Comments »

Would Birmingham City Council demolish a listed building.

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

Birmingham Central Library Photo by Martin Hartaland hartlandmartin on flickr

A surprising piece by Paul Dale on the Birmingham Post blog (link here) about how the council views the possibility of the current Central Library (above) being listed. It seems Clive Dutton the director of regeneration would demolish it regardless of whether it was listed or not.
Paul Dale reports…

An interesting intervention from city council regeneration director Clive Dutton when addressing a meeting of the seven architects shortlisted for the £193 million Birmingham library project.
….Dutton rose to put all those present straight over the matter of the Central Library in Paradise Forum.
The 1970s building would be demolished come what may, even if campaigners succeed in having it listed, Dutton said. “Whether or not that building is listed it will come down,” he added for good measure.
…Whatever he says publicly, Dutton cannot know for certain that the council would succeed in obtaining permission to demolish the library if the building is listed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
If we rule out the likelihood of a midnight raid by bulldozers, with Dutton at the head of the demolition crews, the best that the council could do would be to ask the DCMS for permission to flatten the building.

Photo Credit: Martin Hartland

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Posted in BirminghamUK, Buildings, Policy | 2 Comments »